HONDA'S all-new Jazz, due to go on sale here in February, has soared to the top of the sales charts in Japan.

The new model, built on Honda's new 'small car' platform, promises cleaner emissions, advanced safety, spacious interior and more driving pleasure.

The all-new CR-V has already gone into production in Swindon, which also produces the new Civic three-door for export to Japan and North America.

Honda's MAC course for training drivers has won the Prince Michael International Safety Award.

ALFA ROMEO is celebrating record sales in the UK. With three weeks of the year left, new registrations passed 16,400, comfortably exceeding the marque's previous record of 13,638 in 1979.

MG ROVER has been awarded Portugal's top rating for economy for the company, not its cars. The maker has recalled over 7,000 MGFs produced between September 2000 and September 2001, over concerns for seat belt pre-tensioners.

LAND ROVER, now owned by Ford, has decided Solihull is still its best production site and will spend £2.5 billion to produce new models.